Associates, Do You Need Your Own Professional Website? Yes.

By Gabriella Khorasanee, JD on June 05, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

If you're working at smart law firm, chances are you already have a bio or profile page on your firm's website. So, do you really need to create your own professional website? The answer is an emphatic "yes!"

If you are not so easily convinced, read on to find out why creating your own professional website will be in your best interest.

1. Build Your Future

No job is forever, so it would be silly to solely rely on your firm's website as your professional online presence. Not only that, but you most likely don't have any control over the information presented on the firm's site. In all likelihood, especially for junior associates, you're lucky to get more than just your name and area of specialty listed. The longer bios are usually reserved for partners.

2. Build Your Brand

Your brand? Yes, you are your "brand." By creating a website to highlight your professional achievements, you are by extension creating a brand. Make sure that the website looks professional, and includes information relevant to your practice area, especially if you are looking to practice in a niche field.

3. Build Your Portfolio

Face it, people will Google you. And it's nice to have your own website come up as a search result, and not just rely on Facebook and LinkedIn, which again, you have no control on how the information is presented -- every LinkedIn page looks the same, but you can build your "brand" by creating visual interest.

Not only that, but you can have all of your professional work reside digitally in one place, essentially creating an online portfolio. Your resume, writing samples (keeping in mind client confidentiality of course), and links to your publications should all be on your website. You can take it further and try to become an expert in a niche area by creating a blawg and writing about developments in your niche practice area.

You may be wondering where you will find the time to devote to creating a professional website with your billing quotas, but look at it as an investment in yourself. Everyone has a digital footprint -- don't you want to control yours?

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